Machu Picchu and the mountain that brought me to tears ⇒
Day IV Machu Picchu The Incas were amazing engineers who really paid attention and respected the earth. They strongly believe in keeping the Pacha Mama happy. For example, they never carve the mountain unless for religious purposes. They only use rocks that have fallen from the mountain so they figure the Pacha Mama doesn't want them any more. Some of the buildings were built simply while the buildings for religious purposes or for very important people were built with rocks that have been carved so perfectly they fit together without any cracks. To this day in those buildings there is no moss growing between the rocks. There are no gaps at all and the buildings have survived countless earthquakes. Around the city are carved rocks that echo the shape of the mountains in the background when you look at them from a certain angle (very clever!)
The city is actually built in a valley between MAchu Picchu and Huayna Picchu Mountains. I decided in a brief moment of insanity to join Julio and a few others for a hike up Huayna Picchu. The hike itself wasn't overly difficult--it only took about a 40 minutes each way. But at the top the stairs were very steep and very narrow. We stayed for a while on some rocks at the top enjoying the view.
A brief digression: I have recently developed a bit of vertigo. I actually don't feel afraid of heights while I'm on something stable like a mountain but when I look down I get dizzy and feel sick.
So....one of my travel buddie, Andy, who also suffers from a fear of heights started to panic a bit at the top at the prospect of how were were going to get down so she and I started off before the rest of the group. I talked her down the first part where we basically had to abseil down a flat rock face...not too steep but you had to use a rope. Then we hit the very narrow steep stairs that were basically like a ladder. She was going down ahead of me being talked through it by Donna step by step. Then Andy asked me how I was coping and by then I was having a bit of a panic attack and started crying. So there were the pair of us on this ladder shaking and she was talking me down step by step. At the bottom of the ladder we both practially ran down the rest of the uneven stairs that were carved out of the mountain. I've never moved so fast in my life!
I told Julio I renamed the mountain (Whiner picchu) which he thought was hilarious!
Ok, so back to Machu Picchu City for the rest of Julios interesting tour. Erin had resurfaced from his hang over nap on the terrace feeling a bit better. We finished the tour and took the bus back for lunch. Erin was not feeling so good after the bus ride so I had some fries and popped off to the market with Andy and Gab. Bargained successfully in Spanish for three t-shirts for 35 Soles ($17 Can). We caught the train back at about 4:00 and got back to our Cuzco hotel by 7:00 for dinner and an early night.
Today we went for well deserved massages with two Bernie Dorises and we are just chilling out letting Erin recover from his traveller's tummy (thanks for the meds, Dianne!). Tomorrow we head off to the jungle.